John 12:32- "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."

I know that, when Jesus spoke here, He was specifically referring to His impending crucifixion. However, I don't think that would prevent us from gleaning another principle from this verse that will be both a challenge and a help to us.

We as Christians have a duty to lift up the name of Jesus before a wicked, lost, and dying world. I am firmly of the opinion that there are too many people- knowingly or unknowingly- running His Holy Name into the ground and not enough people lifting it up in honor. We are to be an example to the world of the importance of making God the #1 priority, and this begins by lifting Him up to the top of our own personal priority lists.

If we do this, then I think that our ministries and our witness for Him will be much more effective. If we lift Him up and magnify Him in our own lives for the world to see, then He will draw people to Himself. We are just the messengers and servants- it is He who touches hearts. It's not necessarily our job to "convince" people to follow the Lord. It's our job to spread and be an example of the Gospel message so that He can work through us to draw people to Him. Many times I have thought that we'd see more true revival if Christians would simply concentrate on magnifying Him and lifting His name high in their own lives. God works through the testimonies of His people!

Is lifting Him high the one main focus of your life? If not, then change those priorities around and watch what He can do through you!

Pastor Chad... I for one cannot stand to be around folks who take GOD so lightly and take HIS NAME in vain and/or curse HIM. I am one who will and does speak up for MY LORD. I Cant repay him for all HE has done for me, but I can do my very best to always put HIM AS #1 in everything and not to allow others to take HIS NAME in any other way but to HONOR HIM.
thanks for these devotionals